DUCKS AND GEESE 



of three parts by weight of corn meal, two parts 

 low-grade flour or middlings, one part bran, one- 

 half part beef scrap, 10% green feed and about 3% 

 oyster shell or sand. This mash is fed three times 

 daily. Another ration which can be used for fatten- 

 ing purposes consists of 3 parts corn meal, 1 part 

 low-grade wheat flour, 1 part bran, 5% beef scrap 

 and 3 % oyster shell with green feed and grit in ad- 

 dition. 



Where fish is available it can be substituted for 

 the beef scrap but on most farms this is impractical. 

 The fish where fed is boiled and mixed in the mash. 

 However, no fish should be fed up to within 2 weeks 

 before the ducks are killed as there is danger of 

 giving a fishy taste to the carcass. For additional 

 information as to feeding methods used on commer- 

 cial duck farms which could be utilized to advan- 

 tage for the farm flocks, see Chapter VI. 



Birds which are to be reserved for breeders 

 should be selected out and taken away from the 

 ducklings which are to be fattened. These breed- 

 ing birds should be carried along on the ration 

 which they have been receiving until about Decem- 

 ber 1 when they should be put on a laying ration. 



It is very necessary to see that the ducklings have 

 a plentiful supply of drinking water. It is espe- 

 cially important to renew this supply just before the 

 ducklings are fed so that they will have ample water 

 while they are consuming their feed. The water 

 should be given in dishes deep enough so that the 



134 



